The next morning.
The first light of dawn painted the eastern sky.
The intoxicating sea of clouds resembled a dreamscape. Seated gracefully in the mountain peak's elegant pavilion, Bai Piaopiao gazed with anticipation, as if the surrounding scenery had become even more breathtaking than usual.
She poured tea with her own hands, her heart fluttering as she waited.
After what felt like an eternity,
a servant emerged from the sea of clouds, bowing respectfully.
"Your Majesty, the White Emperor,"
"Young Master Yi Feng has yet to rise. We dared not disturb him."
At these words,
Bai Piaopiao's eyes flickered with surprise, though she did not reprimand the servant, merely waving her jade-like hand to dismiss them.
Only when she was alone again
did a trace of disappointment surface in her clear eyes.
The day before,
she had sent an invitation through her attendants, asking Yi Feng to join her for tea at dawn.
Before the sky had even brightened,
she had already prepared the tea set, even bringing out the sacred immortal tea—a treasure so rare, only a pound could be harvested every ten thousand years. Apart from Su Jie, no one else had ever been granted such an honor.
Yi Feng would never stand her up...
So why hadn’t he risen yet?
Her heart filled with unease as she glanced toward the distant sea of clouds.
Only then did Bai Piaopiao notice the first glow of dawn in the east.
It seemed...
she had come far too early.
A soft, self-deprecating laugh escaped her lips.
"How could I lose my composure like this... Thankfully, no one knows..."
Just as she murmured to herself,
another servant hurried over from the sea of clouds, bowing urgently—clearly bearing important news.
"Your Majesty—"
Before the servant could finish, Bai Piaopiao’s heart leapt with joy, unable to suppress her eager question.
"Has Young Master Yi Feng arrived?"
The servant bowed again. "Your Majesty, it is not Young Master Yi Feng, but Chess Saint Lord Gu who has come to visit."
Gu Qingcheng?
At the name, the anticipation in Bai Piaopiao’s eyes faded into disappointment, gradually replaced by frosty indifference.
"I will not see him."
The servant hastily retreated, not daring to say another word.
Chess Saint Gu Qingcheng—
the eldest son of the ancient Gu Clan, a prodigy of the Tianxia Society, a man of unparalleled talent who had attained sainthood through the art of chess. His beauty was legendary; even as a man, he was praised for his "city-toppling" looks, living up to his name.
With such brilliance and charm, countless noblewomen had fallen for him.
Yet, alas,
he had never earned the White Emperor’s favor.
This saint had visited many times,
only to be turned away repeatedly.
The matter was no secret—anyone of status had heard of it.
Though the servants might have countless questions,
their mistress was also a saint. The affairs between saints had their own logic, and none dared to pry.
As the servant withdrew,
Bai Piaopiao’s frustration eased slightly, and she resumed her quiet wait for Yi Feng.
Suddenly,
ripples of spatial distortion appeared outside the pavilion.
Bai Piaopiao’s eyes widened in shock.
Had Yi Feng broken through to sainthood?
Was his talent truly so monstrous?!
Unconsciously, a glimmer of hope flickered in her gaze.
But when the figure became clear—
dressed in luxurious robes, holding a sandalwood fan, wearing a refined smile—her clear eyes cooled once more.
The newcomer, exuding noble grace, clasped his hands in a practiced bow.
"White Emperor, forgive my intrusion. This humble one grew impatient waiting and took the liberty of entering. If I have offended, I beg your leniency."
This was none other than Chess Saint Gu Qingcheng.
His words were polished, his bow fluid, carrying an air of scholarly elegance.
After all, he was a saint,
and with the backing of an ancient clan,
now that he had already forced his way in,
Bai Piaopiao could hardly make a scene. Besides, her temperament was naturally magnanimous, so she responded with a perfunctory acknowledgment.
"Chess Saint, you are too courteous."
Yet this single polite phrase
seemed to embolden Gu Qingcheng. Confidence blooming, he rose with a smile and strode into the pavilion, seating himself opposite her at the tea table.
Fanning himself leisurely, he began to chat with practiced charm.
"The White Emperor has such refined tastes.
Ah?
Purple Cloud Immortal Tea—such a rarity, reserved only for saints. Could it be that Your Majesty knew I would visit and prepared it in advance?
If so, I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude."
Gu Qingcheng’s eyes crinkled with delight.
He was undeniably a peerless beauty, the kind that inspired instant admiration. As his fan swayed with effortless grace, an intoxicating fragrance wafted through the air—a scent so potent that ordinary cultivators would find their power surging just from a whiff. Such was the privilege of saints and ancient clans.
But Bai Piaopiao was also a saint,
her heritage far beyond the ordinary.
Now, as the overpowering aroma drowned out the delicate fragrance of her immortal tea,
her carefully arranged moment was ruined.
And seeing Gu Qingcheng seated on the cushion meant for Yi Feng...
Her usual patience and tolerance evaporated.
Her fair face turned icy.
"You flatter yourself, Chess Saint."
His smooth words and feigned humility were met with nothing but frost.
A lesser man
might have flushed with humiliation, eyes burning with resentment.
But Gu Qingcheng was no ordinary man.
Having been rejected multiple times, his pride and resilience had been tempered to steel.
After only a brief pause,
he laughed off the awkwardness and smoothly changed the subject.
"Hahaha, it is precisely the White Emperor’s honesty that I admire. Every meeting with you refreshes my spirit."
Once the flattery was out,
Gu Qingcheng’s smile warmed, his tone turning intimate.
"Piaopiao.
Truth be told, I’ve discovered a place of unparalleled beauty in a distant realm—no less magnificent than your sacred domain, untouched by most. I came specifically to invite you to see it.
If you witness it, the memory will stay with you forever!"
With his breathtaking looks,
his tender voice, and his affectionate words, the scene was like something out of a maiden’s dream.
This tactic had won over countless noblewomen.
It had never failed him before.
His gaze deepened with emotion,
the confidence in his eyes growing ever brighter.
Yet within a single breath,
Bai Piaopiao replied—her voice colder than ever.
"I’m busy. I won’t go."
The words were brutally blunt, devoid of even the slightest courtesy.
Even Gu Qingcheng
couldn’t maintain his composure this time, his smile stiffening.
Forcing a chuckle,
he pressed on, his left hand reaching subtly for her delicate fingers.
"Piaopiao...
Why must you always push me away? After all my visits, surely you understand my feelings...?"
Just as his fingers were about to brush hers,
the space before him rippled—and Bai Piaopiao’s figure vanished instantly.
Gu Qingcheng grasped at empty air,
his face frozen in shock.
Turning,
he saw her standing outside the pavilion, her back to him as she spoke with icy finality.
"Chess Saint, know your place."
The words were like glacial winds.
This was completely beyond Gu Qingcheng’s expectations, his eyes flashing with pain.
At this moment,
he could no longer suppress his frustration. Snapping his fan shut, he stood abruptly, his voice tinged with desperation.
"Why?
Why won’t you accept me?! In cultivation, in lineage—what do I lack?! Do you have any idea how many women dream of catching my attention?!"
But as he vented his indignation,
Bai Piaopiao seemed to notice something else entirely, ignoring him as she took light, hurried steps down the jade stairs—like an ordinary person,
or like someone eagerly welcoming a dear friend.
How could this be?
A saint,
discarding all dignity and restraint, rushing to greet someone like this?
Who could possibly
matter so much to Bai Piaopiao?
Could it be Su Jie?
Left behind, Gu Qingcheng watched with cold eyes,
his gaze a mix of resentment and bewilderment.
His gaze fixed intently ahead.
In the distance, a figure indeed approached.
A man?
It was actually a man?!
Gu Qingcheng froze for a moment, his grip tightening around the wooden fan!
Then—
He heard it. A voice, soft and tender, unlike anything he'd ever heard before.
"You've come...?"
Nervousness.
Affection!
That restrained yet eager delight!
Even with just three words,
Gu Qingcheng, a man who had wandered through countless blossoms, instantly discerned layers of meaning!
The jade fan creaked under his crushing grip!
Fury blazed in his eyes!
e, Immortal Body, Transmigration, System, Progression Fantasy, Academy Setting, Third-Person Perspective. Alternate Title: Transmigrating into a High Martial World and Reading Live Comments. Bad news: I transmigrated. This is a terrifying high-martial world, and my original, pathetically weak body fell into a coma and never woke up. Good news: I got a Popularity Points system upon arrival. I can see live comments and even create an unkillable alternate identity. Starting out, the alternate identity has all stats at 1. The system tells me that to grow stronger, I must participate in the plot, gain popularity points to allocate stats and grow stronger, and ultimately awaken my original body. And so, carrying my original body on my back, I officially entered Huaqing Academy, where the story's protagonist resides. From that moment on, Chen Guan kicked the original plot to pieces. Live Comments: [Doesn't anyone find this mysterious coffin guy creepy? He can summon indescribable grey misty hands.] [Is this guy a hero or a villain? What kind of onion became a spirit?] [By the way, does anyone know who's in the coffin? Shouldn't the debt for saving his life be repaid by now?] [According to unofficial histories, the person in the coffin was Chen Guan's first love. Their love was once passionate and earth-shattering, but they were separated by life and death due to worldly circumstances. What a star-crossed pair.] ... Years later, the world knew of a demon god born from a coffin, shrouded in grey mist, impossible to gaze upon directly. His foremost divine emissary often wielded a scythe, reaping lives like the god of death. As war approached, facing former friends and a boundless sea of enemies, Chen Guan merely raised his scythe. "Would you like to dance as well?"
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
